Russia’s war on Ukraine. 23.11.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy fought on the northern outskirts of Andriivka and Varachyne. The 83rd Separate Airborne Brigade suffered losses while attempting to infiltrate Varachyne via a pipeline. The 4th battalion of 1st Consolidated Rifle Regiment of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Armed Forces deployed near Volodymyrivka for a further assault toward Andriivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in Ryzhivka and pushed the enemy back to their starting positions, counterattacking near Andriivka and Oleksiivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces tried to advance east of Vovchansk, west of Synelnykove, south of Dvorichna, attacked near Khatnie, and in the direction of Kolodyazne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Ambarne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian units hold separate positions in the center and southern part of Kupyansk, cleared Petropavlivka, attacked within and near Kupyansk itself, in the direction of Kutkivka, near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Bohuslavka, Kopanky, in the direction of Shyikivka, Hrekivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked within and near Kupyansk, striking enemy forces in the southeastern part of Bohuslavka.
On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian positions along the T0513 highway Lyman – Siversk south of Yampil and counterattacked near Maslyakivka.
Russian forces tried to advance west, southeast, and south of Yampil, north of Drobysheve, southeast and southwest of Stavky, southeast of Lyman, along the T0514 highway Dobropillya – Lyman south of the city, attacked near Novoselivka, Shandryholove, Korovyi Yar, in the direction of Oleksandrivka, near Karpivka, Novomykhailivka, Novyi Myr, Stavky, Torske.
On the Sloviansk direction, the 88th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army advanced to the northeastern outskirts of Zvanivka. Russian forces struck Ukrainian positions on the southeastern outskirts of Siversk, infiltrated buildings in the northeast of Platonivka, and attacked near Dronivka, Vyimka, in the direction of Sviato-Pokrovske and Pazeno.
Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced along the railway to the south and southeastern outskirts of Siversk, pushing back the enemy.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced to the western outskirts of Oleksandro-Shultyne and counterattacked near Volodymyrivka.
Russian forces tried to advance west and northwest of Ivanopillya, along the H32 highway Pokrovsk – Kostyantynivka south of Stepanivka, east of Sofiivka, cleared the northern part of Ivanopillya, and attacked near Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Predtechyne, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, in the direction of Berestok, Stepanivka, Mykolaypillya, near Rusyn Yar, and Poltavka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces fought for Shakhove, tried to advance west of Dorizhne, west of Zatyshok, along the T0504 highway Pokrovsk – Myrnohrad south of Rivne, began attacking Myrnohrad along the T0504 highway from Rivne and advanced into the eastern part of Myrnohrad, attempting to pin down Ukrainian Defense Forces units within the city, continue efforts to encircle Myrnohrad, and block Ukrainian exit routes from the city, attacked near Novo-Shakhove, Zaporizhzhia, near and inside Pokrovsk, in the direction of Hryshyne, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, within Myrnohrad, Rivne, near Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, in the direction of Novopidhorodnie.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Shakhove, Hryshyne, Rodynske, Udachne, and Sukhetske.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces tried to advance in the northern and central parts of Novopavlivka, attacked near Novomykolayivka, Dachne, Filiya, Yalta, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Sichneve, Voskresenka, Vorone, Sosnivka, Stepove, Berezove, Verbove, Oleksiivka.
On the Huliaypole direction, the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army fought for Nove Zaporizhzhia and Vysoke. Russian forces attacked in the direction of Huliaypole, near Yablukove, Rivnopillya, in the direction of Varvarivka, Pryluky, near Pryvilne, Zlahoda, Krasnohirske, Zatyshshya, Vysoke, Malynivka, Zelenyi Hai. The enemy tries to degrade Ukrainian logistics to facilitate a future assault on Huliaypole.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Stepove, Stepnohirsk, Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Russian forces attacked near the Antonivskyi Bridge.
General conclusion:
Russian forces on the Kupyansk and Lyman Directions continue to use small groups to bypass and penetrate Ukrainian positions.
On the Lyman Direction, Russian forces attempt to advance to the Siverskyi Donets River and bypass Lyman from the south, control up to 70% of Yampil, while Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in its southern part.
The situation on the Pokrovsk Direction remains serious and dynamic. The enemy continues attempts to seize Pokrovsk and encircle Ukrainian Defense Forces in Myrnohrad.
The Russian military command concentrates significant forces to fully encircle the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead, transferring elements of the 76th Air Assault Division to the Pokrovsk Direction. The enemy maintains high attack intensity, focusing on capturing Pokrovsk despite heavy losses.
The situation on the Huliaypole Direction remains tense, Russian forces advance, but Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out several successful counterattacks on other sectors of the front. The enemy has enveloped some Defense Forces units on the Huliaypole Direction, completely cutting them off from logistics. The command of the Ukrainian Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine maintains communication with the units and continuously makes efforts to supply and evacuate them.
Russian forces executed five Ukrainian prisoners of war near Kotlyne, again violating Article 13 of the Geneva Convention. An increase in Russian war crimes has been observed near Pokrovsk in recent weeks.
Airborne Forces units of the Russian Armed Forces on the Prydniprovske Direction will receive naval drones to strike coastal infrastructure of Ukrainian Defense Forces, vessels and boats, and to supply their forces via waterways.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 162 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 19 engagements took place.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4 enemy attacks near Vovchansk, Lyman, and Synelnykove.
On the Kupyansk direction, 7 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped enemy assaults near Pishchane, Petropavlivka, and Kupyansk.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked twice, attempting to advance near Novoselivka.
On the Sloviansk direction, 10 assaults by occupying forces were repelled in the areas of Serebrianka, Siversk, Sviato-Pokrovske, Pazeno, and Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 18 attacks in the areas of Kostyantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, Ivanopillya, Stepanivka, and in the direction of Mykolaypillya.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 40 clashes occurred near Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Myrnohrad, Nykanorivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie, Pokrovsk, Rivne, Zvirove, Novopavlivka, Molodetske, Dachne, and Filiya.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 16 enemy attempts to break through in Sosnivka, Verbove, Pryvilne, Berezove, Stepove, Krasnohirske, Oleksiivka, Yehorivka, and Zlahoda.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 18 enemy attacks near Yablukove, Zatyshshya, Varvarivka, Pryluky, Huliaypole, Malynivka, and Vysoke.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy tried three times to advance near Mala Tokmachka, Prymorske, and Stepnohirsk.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the aggressor carried out 3 unsuccessful attack attempts near the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out UAV strikes against the Shatura State District Power Plant in Moscow Oblast, the Stavrolen enterprise in Budionnovsk, Stavropol Krai, energy infrastructure facilities in Zugres, Torez, Dokuchaievsk and Shakhtarsk in Donetsk Oblast, and an electrical substation in the Borovskoi neighborhood of Rylsk, Kursk Oblast. Vnukovo Airport suspended operations.
A Separate SOF unit shot down an enemy Mi-8 helicopter in flight near Kuteinikovo, Rostov Oblast, using an FP-1 UAV.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 45th Separate SOF Brigade of the Airborne Forces and the 245th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army strike Ukrainian forces near Ryasne.
The 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army strikes Ukrainian forces with UAVs on the western approaches to Kupyansk.
The 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army and the 78th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army operate south of Kostyantynivka; the 1st Battalion of the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 13th BARS detachment strike Ukrainian forces with UAVs in and near Oleksandro-Shultyne. Elements of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operate south of Stepanivka. The 155th Separate Marine Brigade and the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army strike Ukrainian forces with UAVs near Rayske; the 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army detects and engages Defense Forces UAV positions near Kostyantynivka.
The 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army operate in and around Pokrovsk; the 56th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions with UAVs near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad; the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps operates near Bilytske.
The 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army operates in and around Novopavlivka.
The 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army operates near Nove Zaporizhzhia, Danylivka and Nechayivka; the 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates near Radisne.
The 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade strikes Ukrainian positions southwest of Magdalynivka; the 74th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 4th Army Corps of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes positions north of Orikhiv.
Possible operation situation developments:
The Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry assesses that while the enemy is unlikely to capture all of Donetsk Oblast by the spring of 2026, it may reach the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk area by early winter. Additionally, if current fighting continues at the same pace, the enemy could possibly take control of Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kupyansk no earlier than year’s end.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy’s 6th Army troops will be bypassing Kupyansk as deeply as possible in the general direction of the Chuhuiv– Kupyansk highway and will fight for the area of Mala Shapkivka–Velyka Shapkivka–Kindrashivka–Tyshchenkivka.
On the Lyman direction, the troops of the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to reach the Siverskyi Donets River along the widest possible front, cut all main routes that do not cross the river, and block the town of Lyman from the northwest, for which they will advance toward the area of Yarova–Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb. Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 11th Army Corps will continue to defend along the Novoselivka–Stavky line.
The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, attempting to cut the H20 highway Kostyantynivka–Sloviansk, which will complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 19th Army Corps in Kostyantynivka. The enemy will deliver concentric strikes simultaneously from Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, and from the Poltavka–Novoolenivka line.
The command of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping has clearly sensed the possibility of a relatively organized withdrawal of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the encirclement the enemy is creating, particularly from Myrnohrad. To prevent this, the aggressor is making efforts to achieve a deeper envelopment of the Pokrovsk defense area from the west, advancing north from the Udachne–Kotlyne line and attempting to break through toward Hryshyne. A withdrawal of Defense Forces elements from Myrnohrad to the Dobropillya area could affect the overall situation regarding its bridgehead west of the Kazennyi Torets. To prevent deterioration of the situation, the 51st Combined Arms Army will urgently organize and conduct counterattacks in the areas of Ivanivka and Nove Shakhove.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the main operational-tactical objective of the command of the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping is to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area from the north and block its main lines of communication, primarily from the Pokrovske side. The enemy will try to break through to the Khaychur River and to the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section and will attempt to reach Pokrovske directly from the southeast with the forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army and the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army.
On the Orikhiv direction, the “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through along the left bank of the Dnipro River from the Plavni – Kamianske line toward Stepnohirsk and from the Stepove – Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 23.11.25
Personnel - almost 1,165 260 (+920);
Tanks – 11,363 (+2);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,615 (+8);
Artillery systems – 34,585 (+26);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,549 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,248 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 67,922 (+80);
Aircraft - 428 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 83,338 (+496);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,981 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of November 23, the enemy attacked Ukraine with 98 unmanned aerial vehicles, about 60 of which were Shaheds. The Air Forces reported shooting down or suppressing 69 of them. Another 27 UAVs hit 12 locations.
On Saturday evening, Russian forces shelled Zaporizhzhia, injuring six people. The attack damaged a store and nearby buildings in the regional center.
On the night of November 23, the Russian occupation army attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with UAVs, 15 of which were destroyed. In Dnipro, 14 people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl. Fires were recorded on the balconies of a nine-story building and in an extension to a private house; six cars were also damaged.
At night, both certain districts of Odesa Oblast and the city of Odesa itself came under attack by enemy UAVs. In Odesa Oblast, the strikes caused fires at energy infrastructure facilities and in a former industrial building. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties.
In Sumy Oblast, due to an enemy attack on the Khotin community on November 23, a 57-year-old civilian man was injured and hospitalized in stable condition. A residential building was destroyed, and two more people may be trapped under the rubble.
In Shostka District of Sumy Oblast, a strike on one settlement damaged a fire and rescue unit’s building and equipment. One rescuer with a preliminary diagnosis of barotrauma was hospitalized. In addition, firefighters extinguished a fire in a non-residential building caused by the attack.
Russian occupiers again deliberately attacked a DTEK energy service vehicle with a UAV in the frontline area of Donetsk Oblast. The energy workers escaped unharmed.
Russian forces attacked a civilian car with a drone in the Korabelnyi District of Kherson, injuring two people. In the morning shelling of Dniprovskiy District of Kherson, two women were injured: a 79-year-old and a 70-year-old.
Is there still a land connection to the battalion of the 38th Naval Infantry Brigade inside Myrnohrad, or was this cut off?
What is the status of the battalion of the 425th Assault Regiment that used to defend the centre of Pokrovsk?
(Asking because I'm monitoring a growing number of videos showing columns of Ukrainian POWs, all taken in this area.)